Media mentions: Protecting student athletes, being vigilant at schools, writing it down, and alumni making waves
Kinesiology professor’s research continues to protect student athletes
As school sports begin to ramp up, a recent segment on The Weather Channel offered a reminder of rules and regulations now in place—in Georgia and other states—to keep players safe. In an interview with Don Corr, associate director of the Georgia High School Association, he mentioned how guidelines now in place to protect high school athletes are having a tremendous effect thanks largely in part to research done by the College.
These guidelines show a proven track record of success thanks to research done by department of kinesiology clinical professor Bud Cooper and former professor Mike Ferrara (now dean of the University of New Hampshire’s College of Health and Human Services). A study released in 2016 using data collected before and after the Georgia High School Association implemented practice rules in 2012 found the number of exertional heat illness incidents was reduced by about 70 percent after the rules were in place and no heat strokes or heat-related deaths were reported.
Warnings to ‘be vigilant’ strike different chord in schools
On a recent trip to London, Peter Smagorinsky was struck by the government-produced posters reminding city transit riders to be alert for potential terrorism. But when he later read an editorial in the Chicago Tribune calling for schools to create “threat teams” to identify “students of concern” and their possible threat of violence, the message hit home.
Smagorinsky, the Distinguished Research Professor of English Education in the department of language and literacy education, noted his concern for this type of move in several ways. In an editorial piece published on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Get Schooled blog, Smagorinsky notes issues of manpower and overloading already-overloaded teachers; exactly how students might be characterized as “threats”; and other issues relevant to schools that aren’t addressed in this matter—particularly, issues such as teachers assaulting students
Educational psychology faculty member quoted in 11Alive story
Taking notes longhand can be beneficial over typing on a keyboard.
That’s the lesson offered by Logan Fiorella, an assistant professor in the department of educational psychology as part of a larger story by Atlanta’s 11Alive TV station.
By putting knowledge into their own words, Fioralla says, students can better integrate the new lessons with their existing knowledge. Typing notes sometimes obscures the meaning, faculty members say, as students are more focused on getting every word down rather than synthesizing the material for their own use.
Extra Special People shares long relationship with Legion Pool
For the past 15 years, Laura Whitaker (B.S.Ed. ’07, M.Ed. ’10), executive director of Extra Special People has taken children to the University of Georgia’s Legion Pool as part of the organization’s summer programs.
For most, she tells the Athens Banner-Herald, it’s their favorite part of camp. “Many of our kids learn to swim at Legion Pool,” adding that some do so well they go on to swim in the Special Olympics.
Extra Special People, a Watkinsville-based nonprofit that helps children with special needs reach their full potential, has grown exponentially under Whitaker’s leadership. The partnership with UGA provides an added benefit; just as music is a universal language, Whitaker says, swimming is a universal sport. “Regardless of a kid’s ability level, they can get in a pool and be weightless or float or swim and slap their hands,” she adds.